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“Let him know you’re here.”
Sloane did his best to soothe Dex. He ran his hand over Dex’s head, his words soft as he spoke. “It’s okay. You’ll be okay, sweetheart. I’m here. I’m right here with you.”
Dex’s chest rose and fell with short, rapid breaths, his pupils blown, and his
terrified gaze on Sloane. Oh God, it was like he was dying. Tears pooled in Sloane’s eyes, and he brought Dex’s fingers to his lips for a kiss.
“If you’re wrong,” Sloane choked out, his eyes on Dex as he addressed Austen, “I’ll never forgive you.”
Austen’s words came out a whisper. “I know.”
“Dex, I’m here. You’ll be okay. You can do this.”
Dex gasped, clawing at the sheets as his back arched again. Another cry tore from his lips, and Sloane grabbed hold of him so he wouldn’t roll off the bed. He held on to Dex, shutting his eyes tight as Dex screamed again. Then he went limp in Sloane’s arms.
“Dex?” Sloane gently laid him back down on the bed. His eyes were closed, and it didn’t look like he was breathing. “Dex? Baby, please!” Sloane felt for a pulse. There was nothing. “Dex!” He jumped off the bed and ran to the closet where his medical bag was.
Dex gasped, and Sloane turned, rushing back to Dex’s side. He cupped Dex’s face, never happier to see those pools of pale blue gazing up at him. “Oh, thank God.” He climbed onto the bed and drew Dex into his arms, running a hand down his back as Dex cried against his shoulder. Sloane couldn’t help the tears that fell. He’d never been more terrified in his life. He closed his eyes tight, feeling when the covers were pulled snugly around them. When Sloane opened his eyes, he knew Austen was gone. Not so much because he couldn’t see Austen anymore, but because he could feel it.
Sloane rocked with Dex cradled in his arms, afraid to let him go. What the hell was going on? Why was Dex having seizures? Sloane had witnessed plenty of episodes in his time. Hell, as a Therian, he was all too familiar with the experience, but he’d never seen anything like this. That it was happening to Dex, a man who’d never suffered from anything worse than a bad cold, was even more frightening. Why would taking Dex to the hospital put him in danger? Did TIN just expect them to carry on as if nothing had happened? Dex had fought through it this time, but what about the next? No, they had to get some professional medical advice.
“Sloane?”
Dex’s voice was so low that Sloane wouldn’t have heard him if the room hadn’t been silent.
“I’m here, sweetheart.” Sloane’s voice was hoarse, his eyes hurt, and his chest burned, but he was relieved. Dex trembled in his arms, and Sloane wrapped his legs around him, drawing him in closer against him, offering his body heat. Before he’d been burning up; now he was cold.
Dex looked up at him, but it was as if he couldn’t see Sloane. As if he were in some kind of daze. Sloane’s hand was shaking when he placed it to Dex’s cheek. His body temperature appeared to be getting back to normal, and quickly.
“What did I say about those gray hairs?” Sloane tried to smile, but Dex’s weak laugh almost broke him. He buried his face in Dex’s hair and tried to find strength in the man he loved. Dex needed him to be strong.
“Tired,” Dex said weakly.
“I know.” Sloane kissed Dex’s cheek. “Close your eyes. I’ve got you.”
“Don’t let go.”
“I promise.”
Dex smiled, and Sloane waited, holding him until his breath steadied, and even then he held Dex some more. He didn’t want to move, afraid if he did Dex might slip away. Dex slept peacefully, his cheeks flushed, but otherwise he looked as he always did. When he could bring himself to move, he laid Dex in the middle of the bed, covering him with the duvet. He checked Dex’s pulse and his breathing. When he was content everything was as it should be, he went to the closet and got out his THIRDS medical bag. It had everything from epinephrine to a portable defibrillator. He placed it on the floor by his side of the bed. When he straightened, his smartphone was on the nightstand.
He needed answers, and he needed them now.
Grabbing his phone, he walked to the bathroom, leaving the door open just enough to keep an eye on Dex. He pressed his thumb to the screen, and when it unlocked, he brought up his contacts. He scrolled through until he found the one he wanted. He was about to press the little green phone button when his phone buzzed in his hand, an unknown number calling. With a frown, he answered, his voice quiet so he wouldn’t wake Dex up.
“Hello?”
“You were about to call,” Sparks replied.
Sloane really hated how she did that. Damn TIN and their surveillance. “I really don’t appreciate being watched or listened to.”
“If we weren’t keeping surveillance on you, we wouldn’t have been there to help Dex when he had his first seizure.”
“Where the hell was your surveillance when Dex was kidnapped? Or when Wolf broke into our home a second time? If your operatives are on it, if they’re so damned good, why does Wolf keep getting to us?”
“I’m looking into it.”
“Bullshit! You’re telling me TIN can’t keep us safe? That they can’t keep track of one guy?”
